“Now is the time to give maximum support to those courageous men and women fighting for their freedom and the freedom of future generations in a democratic, secular, non-nuclear Iran republic,” said Former Undersecretary of State for Global Affairs Ambassador Paula Dobriansky, in her remarks addressing a bi-partisan conference in the United States Senate on March 16, held in solidarity with the people of Iran and their democratic aspirations.
Below are excerpts from Ambassador Dobriansky’s speech, revised and edited for clarity.
Thank you so much. Nowruz Mubarak to all Iranians and Iranian Americans gathered here today. And I hope that this very day brings health, happiness, and prosperity to each and every one of you, your families, and your loved ones. The holiday of Nowruz, I want to take a moment on that because we are in. Nowruz has been celebrated by Iranians for more than 3000 years marking the arrival of Spring. And in 2009, did you know that UNESCO listed the holiday on its representative list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity and noted that it promotes values of peace and solidarity between generations and within families, as well as reconciliation and neighborliness?
I want to devote my comments today, especially to the women and daughters of Iran. We know that on September 16, 2022, Mahsa Jina Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian woman, an aspiring lawyer, was visiting her uncle in Tehran. And during her family visit, she was arrested by Iran’s so-called morality police for allegedly wearing her hijab in a way that made some of her hair visible. While in custody, we know that she died. Witnesses of her arrest describe her having been beaten repeatedly and brutally by the police before she slipped into a coma.
The US. Representative to UNESCO, Ambassador Lisa Cardi, cast this as she was killed for the crime of being simply a woman. Hence spotlighting that the regime assumed that Mahsa’s death would be just another statistic in addition to the regime’s horrible, egregious long record of violence against women.
To this day, the morality police say she died of heart failure. But the Iranian people know otherwise. They know that this kleptocracy in power is corrupt, it’s tyrannical, it’s brutal, and they lie.
But Mahsa did not die in vain. Her savage murder prompted months of grassroots relentless, courageous women-led protests against Iran’s 31 provinces. It has truly sparked an uprising, a revolution. Their braveness defiance of the regime led to a blood-curdling response by the police, who, according to Amnesty International, slaughtered hundreds of peaceful protesters, including, in that mix, around 70 children. I bet that number is higher.
The State Department cast this as state-sponsored violence against women and which has a long history. Yet Mahsa’s brutal killing touched a nerve, a nerve in Iranian society, galvanizing a protest movement.
And we know the protests have raged on, and they will rage on. Those brave souls are still on the streets. They’re chanting, “women, life, freedom.” A freedom revolution is indeed underway.
Last week. It’s very fitting to discuss this and why I chose this aspect today because March 8, last week, was International Women’s Day. In this very month, we celebrate Women’s History Month. So, given these commemorative days, we have to recognize and honor the brave women and girls of Iran.
Our Secretary of State, on the occasion of International Women’s Day, had said the US stands in solidarity with the women of Iran who remain undaunted despite the Iranian regime’s brutality. I also want to share with you that that same day, the administration announced, in coordination with the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Australia, a series of new sanctions that are targeted against the law enforcement of Iran. And in particular, a number of very specific individuals in Iran’s prison system were targeted for their serious human rights abuses against women and girls.
The ongoing violence against Iranian mothers, sisters, and daughters. John, you said that mothers, sisters, and daughters must end. It must end. Now, I don’t know if you know, but I want to remind the 54-member UN Economic, and Social Council ECOSOC adopted a resolution to remove Iran from the commission on the status of Women. It was adopted by a recorded vote of 29 in favor to eight against.
The eight against were Bolivia, China, Kazakhstan, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Russia, and Zimbabwe. And then with 16 abstentions. It is also worth noting that in October two years ago, 2021, the UN Special Rapporteur reported on the human rights situation in Iran, Javaid Rehman. And he told the UN general assembly in his report that almost all executions in the country constituted an arbitrary deprivation of life. And he noted the extensive vague and arbitrary grounds in Iran for imposing the death sentence, which quickly can turn this into punishment and a political tool.
Amnesty International has basically said that the regime in February, January, and February alone, amid horrific sexual violence and other torture allegations, has executed at least 94. And that’s based on, again, some scant information here. But there has been a notable rise in executions compared to the same time last year. And in recent days, we also know there have been countless reports about the poisoning of Iranian schoolgirls. Many human rights organizations at this time have also spoken about the ongoing protests in Iran, including Freedom House. They issued actually a statement that apparently had been cast by some 480 global voices, and they’re all from all across the globe.
There were a number of Americans, but I’m going to mention the non-Americans. There was the former President of Costa Rica, Oscar Arius, prime and former Prime Minister of Canada, Brian Mulroney, and also the former Secretary General of the United Nations Banki Moon. And that specific letter calls upon governments, all governments internationally, to take diplomatic, economic, and symbolic measures to punish the regime and to support the protesters. Now is the time to give maximum support to those courageous men and women fighting for their freedom and the freedom of future generations in a democratic, secular, non-nuclear Iran republic. Know that also Mrs. Maryam Rajavi has put forward a ten-point plan.
And this is something that she has been very consistent about from the very beginning. Her ten-point plan, importantly, calls on the people of Iran to have freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, freedom of religion, and freedom to choose their own leaders. And the people of Iran clearly want that, and they want the protection of their fundamental rights. So those protesting in Iran have launched a movement, a movement that deserves strong support from the international community. Their courage, persistence, and steadfast determination will bring about the change, the change which they desire, and the change which is desired, long desired by us.
So as we come together to celebrate the New Year, let us be reminded of the strength and the conviction of all the freedom-loving people in Iran and all who are fighting for their basic rights and democracy. Let me conclude on this note with a quote from the ancient Persian poet Saadi Shirazi, who once wrote, “thank God the pleasant Naurus breeze returned and freed us from the cold.” That is what we are looking for. Thank you.